“Better Meals, Fewer Pills: Making Our Children Healthy Again”

1[House Hearing, 119 Congress]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                       BETTER MEALS, FEWER PILLS:56                   MAKING OUR CHILDREN HEALTHY AGAIN78=======================================================================910                                HEARING1112                               before the1314           SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES1516                                 of the1718              COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM1920                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES2122                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2324                             FIRST SESSION2526                               __________2728                           SEPTEMBER 9, 20252930                               __________3132                           Serial No. 119-453334                               __________3536Printed for the use of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform3738[GRAPHIC(s) NOT AVAILANLE IN TIFF FORMAT3940    Available on: govinfo.gov, oversight.house.gov or docs.house.gov4142                      U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE4361-719 PDF                WASHINGTON : 20254445              COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM4647                    JAMES COMER, Kentucky, Chairman4849Jim Jordan, Ohio                     Robert Garcia, California, Ranking50Mike Turner, Ohio                        Minority Member51Paul Gosar, Arizona                  Eleanor Holmes Norton, District of52Virginia Foxx, North Carolina            Columbia53Glenn Grothman, Wisconsin            Stephen F. Lynch, Massachusetts54Michael Cloud, Texas                 Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois55Gary Palmer, Alabama                 Ro Khanna, California56Clay Higgins, Louisiana              Kweisi Mfume, Maryland57Pete Sessions, Texas                 Shontel Brown, Ohio58Andy Biggs, Arizona                  Melanie Stansbury, New Mexico59Nancy Mace, South Carolina           Maxwell Frost, Florida60Pat Fallon, Texas                    Summer Lee, Pennsylvania61Byron Donalds, Florida               Greg Casar, Texas62Scott Perry, Pennsylvania            Jasmine Crockett, Texas63William Timmons, South Carolina      Emily Randall, Washington64Tim Burchett, Tennessee              Suhas Subramanyam, Virginia65Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia      Yassamin Ansari, Arizona66Lauren Boebert, Colorado             Wesley Bell, Missouri67Anna Paulina Luna, Florida           Lateefah Simon, California68Nick Langworthy, New York            Dave Min, California69Eric Burlison, Missouri              Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts70Eli Crane, Arizona                   Rashida Tlaib, Michigan71Brian Jack, Georgia                  Vacancy72John McGuire, Virginia73Brandon Gill, Texas7475                                 ------7677                       Mark Marin, Staff Director78                   James Rust, Deputy Staff Director79                     Mitch Benzine, General Counsel80              Reagan Dye, Senior Professional Staff Member81                Peter Spectre, Professional Staff Member82                 Jack Furla, Professional Staff Member83      Mallory Cogar, Deputy Director of Operations and Chief Clerk8485                      Contact Number: 202-225-50748687                Robert Edmonson, Minority Staff Director88                      Contact Number: 202-225-505189                                 ------9091           Subcommittee On Health Care and Financial Services9293                  Glenn Grothman, MWisconsin, Chairman9495Paul Gosar, Arizona                  Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois,96Pete Sessions, Texas                     Ranking Minority Member97Anna Paulina Luna, Florida           Emily Randall, Washington98John McGuire, Virginia               Wesley Bell, Missouri99Brandon Gill, Texas                  Lateefah Simon, California100                         C  O  N  T  E  N  T  S101102                              ----------103104                           OPENING STATEMENTS105106                                                                   Page107108Hon. Glenn Grothman, U.S. Representative, Chairman...............     1109110Hon. Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Representative, Ranking Member....     3111112                               WITNESSES113114Dr. Dorothy Fink, M.D., Acting Assistant Secretary for Health,115  Head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, U.S.116  Department of Health and Human Services117Oral Statement...................................................     5118119Dr. Eve Stoody, Ph.D., Director, Nutrition Guidance and Analysis120  Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture121Oral Statement...................................................     7122123Written opening statements and bios are available on the U.S.124  House of Representatives Document Repository at:125  docs.house.gov.126127                           INDEX OF DOCUMENTS128129  * Article, WSJ, ``Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC and Me'';130  submitted by Rep. Bell.131132  * Article, NYT, ``We Ran the CDC--RFK Jr. Is Endangering Every133  American's Health''; submitted by Rep. Bell.134135  * Report, Wyden and Alsobrooks, ``RFJ 203 Days''; submitted by136  Rep. Bell.137138  * Article, Farm Policy News, ``Farm Bankruptcies Rising in139  2025''; submitted by Rep. Crockett.140141  * Article, Farmdoc, ``Farm Bankruptcies This Year Already142  Exceed 2024 Levels''; submitted by Rep. Crockett.143144  * Letter, HHS Resignation Letter; submitted by Rep. Simon.145146The documents listed above are available at: docs.house.gov.147148                          ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS149150  * Questions for the Record: Dr. Dorothy Fink; submitted by Rep.151  Grothman.152153  * Questions for the Record: Dr. Eve Stoody; submitted by Rep.154  Grothman.155156These documents were submitted after the hearing, and may be157  available upon request.158159                       BETTER MEALS, FEWER PILLS:160161                   MAKING OUR CHILDREN HEALTHY AGAIN162163                              ----------164165                       TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025166167                     U.S. House of Representatives168169              Committee on Oversight and Government Reform170171           Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services172173                                                   Washington, D.C.174175    The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:28 p.m.,176Room 2247, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Glenn Grothman,177[Chairman of the Subcommittee] presiding.178    Present: Representatives Grothman, Sessions, McGuire, Gill,179Krishnamoorthi, Randall, Bell, and Simon.180    Also present: Representatives Subramanyam and Crockett.181    Mr. Grothman. This hearing of the Subcommittee on Health182Care and Financial Services will come to order. Welcome,183everyone.184    Without objection, I may declare a recess at any time. I do185not expect to.186    I recognize myself for the purpose of making an opening187statement.188189  OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN GLENN GROTHMAN REPRESENTATIVE190                         FROM WISCONSIN191192    Mr. Grothman. Welcome to the Subcommittee on Health Care193and Financial Services and other stuff. Today, we will tackle194an important topic, the health and well-being of America's195schoolchildren. The current state of American's children's196health is not great and for years has been going in the wrong197direction. More than one in five Americans over six years old198are obese, a 270 percent increase since the 1970s. So, when I199am asked to speak to a classroom of little children, I cannot200help but noticing that they are clearly much heavier than the201children were in the 1970s.202    American children are diagnosed with prediabetes at a rate203double the rate of 20 years ago, two decades ago. Rates of204depression have nearly doubled since 2007. I think if we asked205the children when I was in middle school or when I was206certainly in elementary school, what depression was, they never207would have heard the word. Approximately three million high208school students reported suicidal thoughts in the last year. A209study shows that youth in the United States are being210prescribed psychotropic drugs at a rate significantly higher211than our European countries. And I do not know where the212numbers are around, the number of kids getting psychotropic213drugs in the 1960s or 1970s when I was a child, but back then,214I would never have known it was even one of my classmates.215    Fifteen percent of American boys and eight percent of216American girls have been diagnosed with attention deficit217hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, and prescribed daily stimulant218pills as a treatment, something else that I did not know was219even going on when I was a child, probably because it was not220going on almost at all. We are literally giving millions of our221children amphetamines and other potent stimulants.222    Meanwhile, the modern American childhood bears little223resemblance to the childhoods we, ourselves, experienced just a224few decades ago. According to the American Academy of Child and225Adolescent Psychiatry, American children spend an average of2267.5 hours per day looking at screens. No wonder they--well, we227are coming up to the next bullet point.228    Numerous studies have found a link between increased screen229time and anxiety, depression, obesity, sleep problems, and230more. Seventy-seven percent of our youth between the ages 17 to23124 would not qualify for military service without a waiver due232to obesity or other health conditions. Isn't that just233shocking? We are going to read that again. Seventy-seven234percent of our youth between the ages of 17 and 27 would not235qualify for military service without a waiver due to obesity or236other health conditions. Isn't that scary? It is scary.237    Children enrolled in Medicaid or their state's children238health insurance program are more likely to be diagnosed with a239behavioral health disorder. These are often children from240single-parent households due to the lower income qualifications241for Medicaid.242    The number of child psychiatrists in the United States has243grown over 37 percent in the last seven years. The question is,244did it help? Our children are struggling with their mental and245physical health, all the while being over-medicalized by a246healthcare system that does not hesitate to prescribe more247pills. Did it help?248    On top of that, too many children are not eating the249nutrient-dense foods they need for healthy growth and250development. Foods that provide important nutrients to the251diet, such as fruits and vegetables, dairy, whole and enriched252grains, should be encouraged. Instead, children are253increasingly being fed ultra-processed foods such as soda,254candy, and chips, the makers of which lavish campaign255contributions on politicians.256    This, in part, is contributing to the childhood obesity257epidemic, impacting an estimated 14 million children in the258United States The most recent Centers for Disease Control and259Prevention (CDC) study on weight gain trends over time found260that the average weight in Americans has increased 24 pounds261since 1960. I notice that when I speak at my local schools. I262mean, I do not say it, you know, your kids look fat. I do not263say it, but I think it.264    So, I am glad the Trump Administration, through Health and265Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, and United266States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke267Rollins are working hard to bring attention to and solve this268crisis. On May 22 of this year, the Make America Healthy Again269Commission, MAHA, released a 78-page report which covered many270of these topics. Well, this report has been needlessly271politicized and demonized by some Democrat politicians--I am272sure not my Ranking Member--and mainstream media pundits, I273suspect many have not read it. I want to read a small snippet.274    ``The purpose of this report is radical transparency about275our current state to spur a conversation about how we can build276a world together where, one, American farmers are put at the277center of how we talk about health; and two, the American278healthcare system thrives when disease is prevented and279reversed, not just managed in a sick-care system.'' Sounds like280common sense to me that will greatly improve the health and281happiness for young children. I am glad Secretary Kennedy is a282disruptive force.283    Our constituents know that something is deeply wrong with284the status quo when it comes to health. Last November--well, I285will not make this partisan. But, you know, President Trump, we286believe, was given a mandate to improve the health of American287children. And people want a change, man. Congress must enact288policies which make America healthy again. We would love to289have the children as healthy as they were in the 1980s, the2901970s, the 1960s.291    I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle can292agree that what is happening to our Nation's children is293alarming. Our children's health is not and should not be294partisan. Both sides must stand up to the health problems we295have in this country and stand up to the processed food296industry and make people healthier.297    No matter your party, it should be clear that many American298children are suffering. Something needs to be done to address299the health of our youth. Today, we will hear directly from two300Federal experts who are actively working on addressing301multifold threats to our Nation's children. We thank you for302being here today. Oh, wow. They look so healthy. They got the303right people. We thank them for appearing at today's304Subcommittee hearing and look forward to a productive305discussion on this important topic.306    Mr. Grothman. I yield to Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi for307his opening statement on this topic.308    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Thank you.309    Mr. Grothman. Do you remember when they were all healthier310when you were a child?311    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Yes, sir. Thank you. And I agree with312you that we have challenges right now.313314              OPENING STATEMENT OF RANKING MEMBER315316       RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI, REPRESENTATIVE FROM ILLINOIS317318    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Mr. Chair, thank you for convening this319hearing. Every day I come to work, I think about what I can do320in Congress to ensure that children in this country will have a321better future than the generations before them. I am not sure322that all the leaders of this Administration have exactly the323same mindset. HHS and the USDA have actively contributed,324unfortunately, to a worsening health crisis for children in at325least two ways, first, by slashing critical programs like326Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid;327and second, by undermining public trust in vaccines and medical328research that are proven to help keep children healthy.329    First, President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act will330take away SNAP benefits from countless children, including in331families with those over the age of 14. As a child, my family332utilized SNAP's predecessor, food stamps, when my own father333lost his income in the early 1970s. SNAP, which is the334successor program, helped us to get on our feet and afford335healthy and fresh food. It is cruel to take away this social336safety net from families just to give the wealthiest a tax337break.338    On top of this, 15 million Americans will lose their health339coverage and be left uninsured due to devastating cuts to340Medicaid. These Medicaid cuts are projected to close at least34111 rural and inner-city hospitals in my home state of Illinois,342making it harder for kids to get the healthcare they need.343Health systems that are unable to continue operating will be344forced to lay off staff and cut services because of these345budget shortfalls. Families will lose access to doctors,346medications, and preventive care. The next generation, namely347our children, will unfortunately suffer the consequences.348    Additionally, Secretary Kennedy and others at HHS have been349unrelenting in eroding public trust in vaccines that save350children's lives. RFK has made outrageous claims, literally351saying that vaccinating our children is ``a Holocaust, what352this is doing to our country.'' These outrageously wrong claims353are driving states like Florida to remove critical vaccination354mandates, even for school children. Even President Trump says355the following about vaccines, they are: ``Pure and simple, they356work. They are not controversial at all, and I think those357vaccines should be used.'' That is what President Trump said. I358may never say this again, but RFK should listen to his359President.360    Protecting kids' health is not new to me. It has been at361the heart of my work since I came to Congress. I held Big362Tobacco accountable when they began targeting our children with363flavored vapes. I began an investigation and helped later364introduce legislation to keep toxic heavy metals out of baby365food. And I devoted myself to increasing access to mental366health services for students no matter where they live by367introducing the Connecting Students to Mental Health Services368Act.369    Any child can see the plain, simple truth here. This370Administration's policies are harming our health and371jeopardizing our future. If we, as a country, truly care about372making America's children healthy again, the first step is373holding HHS and USDA accountable for the roles they are374currently playing in worsening our children's health today.375    Thank you, and I yield back.376    Mr. Grothman. Well, thank you. You kind of are in the377ballpark, but not--okay.378    Without objection, Representatives Subramanyam and Crockett379are waived onto the Committee for the purpose of questioning380witnesses at today's hearing. Okay.381    Now, I am pleased to welcome, so pleased to welcome, our382witnesses for today, Dr. Dorothy Fink and Dr. Eve Stoody. Dr.383Fink is the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health and the head384of U.S. Public Service Commission Corps at the U.S. Department385of Health and Human Services. Dr. Stoody is the Director of the386Nutrition Guidance and Analysis Division of the U.S. Department387of Agriculture. We look forward to hearing what you have to388say. I really look forward to it.389    Pursuant to Committee Rule 9(g), and the witnesses will390please stand and raise their right hand. I will say it again,391pursuant to Committee Rule 9(g), the witnesses will please392stand and raise their right hand.393    Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony that you394are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing395but the truth, so help you God?396    Mr. Grothman. Let the record show the witnesses answered in397the affirmative. Thank you. You may take your seat. We398appreciate you being here today--I really appreciate you being399here today--and look forward to your testimony.400    Let me remind the witnesses that we have read your401statement, and it will appear in full in the Committee record.402I am a flexible guy, but please--as you know, right, I am403flexible?404    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Yes.405    Mr. Grothman. My counterparts say I am flexible. Let me406remind witnesses we have read your statement. Please try to407limit the statement to 5 minutes.408    As a reminder, please press the button on the microphone in409front of you so that when it is on, Members can hear you. When410you begin to speak, the light in front of you will turn green.411After 4 minutes, the light will turn yellow. When the red light412comes on, time to wrap it up.413    Now, I do not know how we decided this. We flipped a coin.414Dr. Fink, we are going to let you go first. Doesn't she look415great?416417                STATEMENT OF DOROTHY FINK, M.D.418419       ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, HEAD OF THE420421         U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS422423          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES424425    Dr. Fink. Thank you, Chairman Grothman, Ranking Member426Krishnamoorthi, and all the Members of this Committee for427inviting me today to speak on a matter of national importance428in our country, focusing on the rising epidemic of chronic429disease in our Nation's youth.430    First, I would love to tell you a little bit more about431myself. I am triple board certified in internal medicine,432pediatrics, and endocrinology. Prior to joining HHS, I433practiced as an endocrinologist, treating patients with many of434the chronic diseases that we will be discussing today. Since435joining HHS, I have led the Office on Women's Health, and436currently, I am leading the Office of the Assistant Secretary437for Health as the Acting ASH.438    Addressing chronic disease in children, including obesity,439hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, mental health440conditions, and cancer, is a signature priority of President441Trump's Administration and Secretary Kennedy's U.S. Department442of Health and Human Services. For too long, the public health443and medical establishments have described conditions such as444type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity as progressive,445incurable, and lifelong conditions. Americans are bombarded446with advertisements suggesting that medications alone can447manage these conditions. Missing from this narrative, and448central to Secretary Kennedy's vision, is the recognition that449many of these conditions are preventable and potentially450reversible.451    Chronic diseases take a heavy toll on children, families,452and our economy. But the American people should know that there453is hope. We can change the trajectory of these conditions454through evidence-based prevention, nutrition, physical455activity, and lifestyle interventions.456    In my clinical experience as an endocrinologist, I have457helped patients, who believe their diseases were irreversible,458regain their health and vitality through such interventions. To459change the trajectory of chronic disease, HHS is putting460greater attention on prevention and research into the root461cause of disease.462    Promoting lifelong health and nutrition begins at birth,463with a goal of exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first464six months, with continued breastfeeding as long as the mother465and baby desire until two years or beyond. Through Operation466Stork Speed, HHS is working to ensure that safe, nutritious,467and wholesome formula options are available to every mother,468child, and family when supplemental or exclusive formula is469necessary for the baby's growth or survival.470    As children grow, they are exposed to unprecedented levels471of processed foods that are high in sugar and chemical472additives. The results are devastating. Approximately 32473percent of adolescents in the United States have prediabetes,474and furthermore, 36 percent of children and adolescents have475excess weight. Furthermore, American girls are reaching puberty476earlier, and boys are experiencing declining testosterone477levels and reduced sperm counts compared with previous478generations. These trends may be linked to diet, obesity, and479environmental exposures, and they demand immediate480investigation. The long-term health of future generations481depends on our ability to confront these issues with urgency482and evidence-based solutions.483    The good news is that these outcomes are not inevitable. In484fact, they are preventable. To counter these trends, HHS is485prioritizing access to whole, nutritious food in schools and486communities, updating the dietary guidelines for Americans to487reflect gold-standard science, and improving Federal nutrition488programs for low-income families in partnership with the489Department of Agriculture. HHS is also investing in490comprehensive nutrition education, ensuring that physicians and491health professionals understand how food impacts health, while492equipping families with practical tools for healthy eating.493    HHS is also restoring physical activity as a central part494of childhood development. By reestablishing the Presidential495fitness test and working with schools and families to integrate496daily exercise, we are giving children the tools to build497strength, endurance, and lifelong habits of movement. These498strategies, taken together, may offer an alternative to499medications for many children.500    Beyond diet and lifestyle, we face new and pressing501concerns. The mental health crisis among adolescents has led to502increasing use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or503SSRIs, despite the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s 2004504black box warning, noting an elevated risk of suicidal thoughts505and behaviors in young people. While these medications have506benefits, they must be paired with careful monitoring and507expanded access to nonpharmacologic interventions in508adolescents that address the underlying causes of depression509and anxiety.510    Today, we stand at a crossroads. The chronic disease511epidemic in our children is the defining public health crisis512of our time. By focusing on safe, wholesome food, clean water513and environment, nutrition education, and physical activity, we514can reverse disease, reduce dependency on medication, and515restore hope to millions of families.516    Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary517Kennedy, HHS is committed to making America healthy again. With518your help and collaboration, we can ensure that America's519children are not burdened with lifelong illness, but instead520thrive as the healthiest generation in our Nation's history.521    Mr. Grothman. Thank you. I was a little bit flexible there,522as advertised.523    Okay. Dr. Stoody, fire away.524525                 STATEMENT OF EVE STOODY, PH.D.526527       DIRECTOR, NUTRITION GUIDANCE AND ANALYSIS DIVISION528529                 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE530531    Dr. Stoody. Thank you, Chairman, Ranking Member, and532Members of the Subcommittee, for the opportunity to appear533before you today. I am Dr. Eve Stoody. I am the Director of the534Nutrition Guidance and Analysis Division at the Center for535Nutrition Policy and Promotion within the Food Nutrition536Service at USDA. I have served at USDA for over 15 years and537have supported the development of the dietary guidelines for538Americans since the 2010 edition.539    As has been mentioned, a healthy diet is made up of540nutrient-dense whole foods, including a variety of protein541foods, dairy, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Substantial542research has shown that when children and adolescents consume a543dietary pattern that emphasizes these food groups, they have544healthier growth and development and that it sets the stage for545better health and disease prevention across the lifespan.546    Unfortunately, the state of the American diet is poor. This547poor diet has resulted in worsening health outcomes among548children and adolescents, which have contributed to increased549rates of chronic disease. The healthy eating index, or HEI, is550an analytic tool that has been developed by USDA and HHS that551measures the quality of the overall diet. HEI scores can range552from zero to 100, with a score of 100 indicating alignment with553a healthy diet. The average HEI score for children and554adolescents 2 to 18 years of age is a 54 out of 100.555    Among the top sources of calories in the American diet are556desserts and sweet snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages, and chips557and savory snacks. These foods illustrate that the American558diet is high in added sugars and refined grains. Regarding559added sugars, Americans consume about 270 calories, and that560comes to about 17 teaspoons of added sugars a day, and intakes561can vary substantially. For example, adolescent males consume a562range of about 100 to 725 calories from added sugars per day.563    For refined grains, intakes are also high, with average564intakes ranging from four to seven ounce equivalents per day565from foods like desserts, muffins, and chips. Collectively,566many of these foods can be described as highly processed or567ultra-processed foods. A recent report has found that 61.9568percent of calories consumed by youth were categorized as569ultra-processed.570    While intakes of refined grains, added sugars, and highly571processed foods are high, intakes of vegetables, fruits, whole572grains, and dairy are low. As examples, only one to two percent573of adolescents meet daily recommendations for vegetables or for574whole grains. In fact, on any given day, about half of our575youth do not consume a vegetable or a fruit. Intakes of protein576food varies. Of note, 78 percent of adolescent females do not577consume enough protein foods like meat, seafood, beans, and578nuts.579    The displacement of nutritious foods by non-nutritive foods580has contributed to the current chronic disease crisis. The581prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and582adolescents is 36 percent, or about one in three. Additionally,583about one-third of adolescents have prediabetes. These health584concerns have immediate impacts and contribute to an increased585rate of developing chronic disease later in life.586    USDA is committed to working collaboratively to fulfill587President Trump's mandate to make America healthy again.588Recently, USDA and HHS partnered to request data and589information that will be used to help develop a uniform590definition for ultra-processed foods. A uniform definition591would allow for consistency in research and policy to pave the592way for addressing health concerns associated with the593consumption of these foods. We encourage anyone with an594interest in this issue to submit comments by September 23 at595Regulations.gov.596    USDA has also already started to take action to ensure597healthy families and communities, for example, by issuing state598waivers to restrict the purchase of non-nutritious items like599soda and candy from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance600Program, or SNAP, and by purchasing millions of dollars in601fresh seafood, fruits, and vegetables from American farmers and602producers to distribute to nutrition assistance programs across603the country.604    USDA and HHS are also working together to develop the next605edition of the dietary guidelines based on sound science. USDA606looks forward to continuing to work together with our Federal,607state, and community partners on identifying innovative608solutions to support healthy choices, healthy outcomes, and609healthy families.610    Thank you, and I look forward to our conversation today.611    Mr. Grothman. Okay. I guess I am going to start off by612giving myself 5 minutes.613    First of all, Dr. Fink, you heard my opening statement in614which we talked about the huge number of people who are not615eligible for military service, right? Did you hear that?616    Dr. Fink. Yes.617    Mr. Grothman. Do you want to comment on that and how things618have changed since I was a child?619    Dr. Fink. Sure. Thank you for the question, Congressman. It620is horrifying to see and hear the statistics that you shared621and that Dr. Stoody and I shared during our opening statements.622When we discuss that 36 percent of children and adolescents in623America have excess weight, it is a tragedy.624    Mr. Grothman. How is that compared to 50 years ago? Do you625know?626    Dr. Fink. Yes, compared to the 1970s, obesity rates have627soared. When we look at obesity, it is at least four times628higher compared to the 1970s, and then rates of severe obesity629have gone up even higher than that. It is----630    Mr. Grothman. That is one of the reasons why we cannot get631these people in the military?632    Dr. Fink. Exactly. And we need to find solutions, and that633is exactly what we are doing at HHS under Secretary Kennedy's634leadership to really focusing on taking our healthcare system635from a sick-care system to a healthcare system where we can636address chronic diseases and work to give patients hope, to not637just talk about chronic diseases as these lifelong progressive638conditions that they require many medications to treat, but639instead conditions that we can work far--much farther upstream640through physical activity and healthy nutrition.641    Mr. Grothman. Okay. Is the problem a lack of food? I mean,642I talked to my own doctor, or a doctor they assigned to me or643whatever, here. He laughed so hard I thought he was going to644cry that President Biden had said that we need greater caloric645intake than we have had. Do you think the problem is the lack646of calories here?647    Dr. Fink. It is multifactorial, most definitely, and, so,648food plays a huge role in our health, and that is why we are649currently working on the dietary guidelines and ensuring that650they are based on gold standard scientific evidence so that651every American family across America knows the best foods, and652furthermore, they can take steps to reverse their chronic653diseases.654    Mr. Grothman. We will ask both of you the question. We will655start with Dr. Stoody because we want to get her in the mix.656Part of this, do you think we should continue to, through the657SNAP program, up the number of sugar drinks or processed foods658that our poorer citizens are right now consuming?659    Dr. Stoody. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, Secretary660Rollins has encouraged states to submit waivers to restrict the661purchase of non-nutritive items, including sodas, candy. Some662states have chosen other options. To date, the Secretary has663signed 12 waivers to restrict those purchases, and we look664forward to continuing conversations with additional states.665That does include states such as Texas, Louisiana, and Florida,666who I know are represented here.667    And the intent of those waivers is really to increase the668purchase of more nutritious items, so allowing those funds to669be used to purchase whole, nutritious, and healthy foods. And670Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy have been very active671in supporting states in pursuing those waivers.672    Mr. Grothman. We have seen a dramatic--we are going in673reverse here as far as, you know, kids' obesity, kids'674prediabetes. I mean, it is scary that over time, we are going675in reverse here. Do you think this ought to be a Federal676mandate? We ought to change the Federal rules and prevent these677kids from eating junk food? I mean, it is going to take a lot678of guts to stand up to the processed food industry. Like I679said, I am sure they are very politically active. But do you680think the Federal Government should step in and say, no, we are681not going to buy any more Pop-Tarts, we are not going to buy682any more Mountain Dew?683    Dr. Stoody. Well, I will say at USDA, we really feel like684agriculture and America's farmers, ranchers, and producers are685at the core of the solution, so really supporting getting686whole, nutritious, healthy foods to kids. I think how we get to687the next phase is similar to what Dr. Fink said. Just as we got688here, there are a lot of multifactorial considerations. I think689to move--to really change the landscape is going to involve a690lot of people. It is going to involve industry. It needs to691involve schools, restaurants. It needs to involve a variety of692different players to have a meaningful impact, and I think the693Federal Government is part of that conversation.694    Mr. Grothman. Okay. Dr. Fink, you said the Federal695Government is part of the solution. Is that what you just said?696    Dr. Stoody. [Nonverbal response.]697    Mr. Grothman. Yes, Dr. Fink, do you feel that the Federal698Government is part of the solution in changing around what we699eat here insofar as we are paying for so much of the food that700our kids eat?701    Dr. Fink. Absolutely, and empowering families, children to702fully understand--you know, when we talk about a third of703adolescents with prediabetes, they can reverse that, and they704can reverse that through eating better, whole, nutritious705foods.706    Mr. Grothman. Should the politicians stand up to the junk707food lobby and say, enough of this, the children come first?708    Dr. Fink. Absolutely, but then also empowering the doctor-709patient relationship, and then really working as we are doing710through education with nutrition and healthcare professionals711is going to help that as well.712    Mr. Grothman. Okay. Well, I guess I have been generous713enough to myself.714    My Ranking Member here, would you like to comment on this715or ask questions? We are giving you 5 minutes to ask questions.716    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Six, yes?717    Mr. Grothman. And we are being flexible.718    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Six?719    Mr. Grothman. I told you I am flexible.720    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Okay. Good. Okay. Okay. Hey, thank you,721Mr. Chair, I appreciate it.722    Dr. Fink, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were found723guilty of running a child sex trafficking ring where they724abused at least 1,000 young girls over decades. In a Fox News725interview with Jesse Waters, RFK admitted to flying on726Epstein's plane, the Lolita Express, at least twice. Dr. Fink,727you have never been on Epstein's plane, I take it, right?728    Dr. Fink. Thank you for the question, Congressman. No, I729have not, and while I appreciate the question, I would really730love to talk about chronic disease today.731    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. We are going to get to that. Here are732the flight logs showing the exact flights that RFK was on with733Jeffrey Epstein. Now, RFK is also excusing his friendship with734Epstein in the following clip.735    [Video shown.]736    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Can you turn up the volume? Okay. I737will read the clip here. He said the following in his podcast.738``I ran into everybody in New York. I knew Harvey Weinstein. I739knew Roger Ailes. O.J. Simpson came to my house. Bill Cosby740came to my house.'' Dr. Fink, you have never socialized with741Harvey Weinstein or Roger Ailes, I take it?742    Dr. Fink. No, I have not.743    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. You never had Bill Cosby or O.J.744Simpson to your home, right?745    Dr. Fink. No, I have not.746    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. In that same podcast, RFK described747Ghislaine Maxwell saying, ``She was always wonderful to me and,748you know, kind.'' You would not call her kind, would you?749    Dr. Fink. Representative, I respect these questions, but I750really do not think that this is the time to go into this. We751have a chronic disease crisis in our country.752    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. You would not call Ghislaine Maxwell753kind, would you, who ran a child sex trafficking ring that754abused more than 1,000 girls.755    Dr. Fink. No, I would not. And I also would say that we756have a chronic disease crisis in our country right now, and we757need to address it.758    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. We have a crisis. We are going to get759to that. The fact that RFK hosted and socialized with760murderers, sex traffickers, and serial rapists is deeply761disturbing. That is why I am going to seek to have this762Committee interview Secretary Kennedy under oath about his763relationships with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.764    Let me turn to my next topic, the 988 suicide hotline. Dr.765Fink, you are the Acting Assistant Secretary of HHS, right?766    Dr. Fink. Yes, I am.767    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. And Substance Abuse and Mental Health768Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the CDC are components of769HHS, correct?770    Dr. Fink. Yes, they are agencies within HHS.771    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. This September has been deemed and772recognized by SAMHSA as Suicide Prevention Month. The CDC, for773three different years under President Trump, namely 2017, 2018,774and 2020, concluded that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,775queer or questioning (LGBTQ) youth are about four times more776likely to attempt suicide than their peers. You do not dispute777those stats, right?778    Dr. Fink. No, I do not. There are also many other stats779that we could discuss here today to address chronic disease.780    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. SAMHSA reported that in June 2025,781nearly 70,000 calls were answered by this LGBTQ youth hotline,782doubling the number of calls that had been received just two783years earlier. You do not dispute those stats, right?784    Dr. Fink. With all due respect, Representative, I do not785oversee SAMHSA, and so I am not able to comment on the number786of calls.787    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Do you dispute that, though?788    Dr. Fink. I----789    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Do you dispute what SAMHSA just put out790this June?791    Dr. Fink. I am not disputing it, but I am just telling792you----793    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Okay. That is what I want to ask you.794    Dr. Fink [continuing]. I do not oversee SAMHSA.795    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Okay. Despite this rising demand, when796I led a bipartisan letter strongly supporting this hotline, HHS797responded that it had ended this specialized hotline, ending798this specialized hotline based on anti-diversity, equity, and799inclusion (DEI) efforts. You do not dispute that, right? This800is your agency, ma'am. We are talking about children----801    Dr. Fink. We----802    Mr. Krishnamoorthi [continuing]. On the verge of committing803suicide.804    Dr. Fink. We are here to talk about the metabolic chronic805disease epidemic.806    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. No, we are here to talk about children807as well and their health. And ma'am, let us just be clear. At a808time when LGBTQ youth and children are reaching out for help809like never before, this Administration is shutting the door.810This hearing is about meals and pills, but it should also be,811Mr. Chairman, about fewer suicides among our children.812    Let me turn to my next topic, and this is about healthy813food. Dr. Stoody, USDA dietary guidelines recommend Americans814at every stage of life should eat ``nutrient-dense foods.''815That includes, I take it, eating your veggies, right, Dr.816Stoody?817    Dr. Stoody. Yes.818    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Seemingly at odds with that mission,819Axios reports that President Trump's economic policies, namely820tariffs, have caused wholesale vegetable prices to go up by 40821percent in just one month. And I just went and bought some822today with my staff. These peppers and this broccoli at the823wholesale level are skyrocketing in prices, Dr. Stoody. You do824not dispute that Axios reported a 40 percent increase in825wholesale prices for vegetables, right?826    Dr. Stoody. I am not aware of their reporting.827    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. You do not dispute their statistics,828right?829    Dr. Stoody. I do not have specifics on prices. I am here to830discuss in my capacity as an expert on childhood nutrition, but831we do have an entire agency, the Economic Research Service, who832I am sure could provide more information on this.833    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. I am just saying you do not dispute the834statistics.835    Dr. Stoody. I have no awareness of the specifics----836    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. That is better.837    Ms. Stoody [continuing]. Of the----838    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. You do not have an awareness----839    Ms. Stoody [continuing]. Statistics.840    Mr. Krishnamoorthi [continuing]. Of it. Dr. Fink, in your841testimony, you wrote that HHS priority is to ``improve Federal842nutrition programs for low-income families,'' but healthy foods843are costing more for everybody at this point. And according to844Congressional Budget Office (CBO), this Administration is going845to cut SNAP benefits such that at least 300,000 families living846with children 14 and older will lose food assistance. You do847not dispute that, right, Dr. Fink?848    Dr. Fink. Representative, we--as Dr. Stoody shared, we,849between HHS and the USDA, are collaborating to take SNAP to the850next level. Our goal is to ensure that children have access to851wholesome, nutritious food.852    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. And they are losing access, ma'am. They853are losing access----854    Dr. Fink. With all----855    Mr. Krishnamoorthi [continuing]. Because your856Administration----857    Dr. Fink. With all due----858    Mr. Krishnamoorthi [continuing]. Is cutting----859    Dr. Fink. With all due----860    Mr. Krishnamoorthi [continuing]. SNAP benefits.861    Dr. Fink. With all due respect, sir, we are challenging862states, as Dr. Stoody said, to submit waivers so that we do not863poison our children with junk food and sugary soda.864    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. This is not junk food.865    Dr. Fink. I am not saying that.866    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. This is going up 40 percent in cost,867and you are cutting the supports to buy this stuff.868    Dr. Fink. Through the SNAP----869    Mr. Krishnamoorthi. I yield back.870    Dr. Fink [continuing]. Program, we are offering waivers to871states so that they can provide children with wholesome,872nutritious foods. And we are really emphasizing that we cannot873continue to provide soda and junk food and call that a874``nutrition program.''875    Mr. Grothman. Thank you much.876    Mr. Sessions?877    Mr. Sessions. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. And I want878to thank the Administration officials who have taken time to be879here and are here for the purpose that we are talking about,880and that is food security, food safety, and the opportunity for881us to make sure that Federal funds are used on foods that do882not encourage further diminishment of a person's life.883    I am interested and see that, I think it is Dr. Stoody,884your presentation before us, we talked about ultra-processed885foods, and then you did not struggle. You just said we are886looking for a better definition. What are some examples of887ultra-processed foods? Where are these found? Is it something888that a family does? Is it taught in schools? What is ultra-889processed food?890    Dr. Stoody. Ultra-processed foods is really a topic that891has grown in discussions, I would say, in the last decade.892There has been a lot of research. One of the prime definitions893that has been used in research is one that came from Brazil,894and it is called NOVA. The way that foods are categorized895within that system and similar systems is the level of896processing that they undergo, whether they have additives,897flavorings, things like that, colorings, as well as there are898considerations around added sugars, added fats, salt.899    So, there are a number of definitions, some that are900primary. You know, NOVA, I noted, was the primary one. But901there has been discussion that some of these definitions are902really broad and that they are including things--like, I think903a lot of us, when we think of ultra-processed foods, things904like sodas or candy are really front of mind, and they are905pretty generally agreed upon as ultra-processed foods. But906there are some things like whole grain products, like yogurt,907like bagged salads or canned vegetables, that there are908questions. Like should those be included in that larger909definition of ultra-processed foods?910    So, what we are doing in a partnership, USDA and HHS in911partnership, is going into that process and trying to912understand, when we are talking about ultra-processed foods,913what are we talking about? There are some things that really914cast a broad net, and is that the net, or is there kind of a915subset of that? And those questions are things that we are916trying to answer in that conversation.917    Mr. Sessions. Thank you. The things that are necessary for918women who may be pregnant or children that are born before, I919guess, we will say the age of ten or twelve, are those920generally things that the Department and certainly under the921Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and922Children (WIC) program and certainly maybe at grocery stores,923are there guidelines, are there things that encourage women924who, in particular, pay attention to children, their925nutritional needs, balance? How do people generally understand926what would be in a child's best interest? What would be in a927mother's best interest? Do you do advertising? Is it at the928grocery store? Is it at the pediatrician? I have seen things929throughout my life and my children where, when you go, you930learn about the importance of a child seat in a car. You get931healthy reminders. You do things. And I am around things. I932have never seen really advertisement or information for933children to get the caloric intake that would be important. How934do you get this information out?935    Dr. Stoody. I think it is probably all of the above of what936you just said. We do have nutrition recommendations for those937populations within the dietary guidelines. The 2020 edition was938the first that provided comprehensive guidance from birth939through older adulthood, so we have that guidance in the940dietary guidelines for Americans. And, as we both noted, that941work to update the dietary guidelines is underway.942    We communicate that through various channels. Dr. Fink is943from the Office of Women's Health, so there is work that--944communicating healthy nutrition there. We have tools within945USDA as well. WIC has a lot of educational components.946    I do think, though, you make a very good point that there947should be even more. And I think one of the really important948parts about this conversation in MAHA is that it is increasing949awareness. It is increasing this conversation that childhood950nutrition does matter. I think there has been a notion that951they are kids, they will kind of grow out of it. I do not952really need to think about my diet or my physical activity or953other aspects until I am older, until I have a health concern.954And I think this conversation has been really important in955saying it does matter. It matters for kids. And so, I am956hopeful that these conversations continue. I do think, though,957that it does require more education campaigns, so that is958something that we hope to see as a part of this continuous work959on promoting healthy eating within the departments.960    Mr. Sessions. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I just want to take961just an additional few seconds. I intend to use this962opportunity to highlight to me, and I am going to begin putting963together something that when we talk to people or send things964out or do town hall meetings, I am going to include these965things. We have talked about diabetes, but sometimes what I am966interested in is, you know, two bananas equal healthy or967whatever it might be. And, Mr. Chairman, I would hope that the968Members of this Committee would take back something that they969can highlight to their constituents and others.970    I want to thank you for holding this hearing today and for971the expertise that we have here today. Thank you very much. Mr.972Chairman, I yield back.973    Mr. Grothman. Thank you. I will have to send something out974on my email list telling people they got to do better.975    Ms. Randall?976    Ms. Randall. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to our977witnesses for being here today.978    You know, for some kids, school is the only place that they979can get a nutritious meal. And in 2023, the USDA found that 7.2980million children were at risk of not getting enough food to981meet their nutrition needs. And not everyone may believe that982it is enough food or enough calories, but there are plenty of983kids in this country who are not getting enough food and the984right kind of calories.985    And for those children, programs like SNAP and TFAP, the986Emergency Food Assistance Program, which supports, among other987things, the ability for food banks and schools to buy fresh988produce from local farmers and school lunch and breakfast989programs, they are a lifeline. They are meaningful nutrition990for kids so they do not fall asleep in class, so that they can991learn, so that they can grow and be healthy.992    And as the USDA's Food and Nutrition Services notes on its993own website, there are clear associations between food994insecurity and poor health, links to chronic disease and995diabetes and cancer. Dr. Stoody, what does USDA's research say996about the impact of poor nutrition on children's health and997well-being?998    Dr. Stoody. As noted, poor nutrition has immediate impacts999on health. We have evidence around performance in school, but1000now we are, as we both noted in our remarks, it is extremely1001concerning that we have such a high prevalence of overweight1002and obesity, as well as something that has been more recently1003seen in the literature is that these various factors, poor diet1004being one of them, low physical activity and other factors have1005resulted in about one in three adolescents having prediabetes.1006That statistic, I think, is extremely alarming. So, yes, we1007definitely see that link.1008    Ms. Randall. Thank you. And what are the long-term effects1009of physical health, cognitive development, and academic1010performance of poor nutrition? So, you mentioned immediate1011results, but long term, what do we see from these kids who do1012not have healthy food to eat?1013    Dr. Stoody. It sets a stage for poor health throughout the1014lifespan. So, it is immediate impacts but also impacts later in1015life.1016    Ms. Randall. The SNAP cuts included in President Trump's1017big, ugly bill could result in as many as nine billion fewer1018meals for families, for children. The SNAP cuts included are1019making a huge impact on vulnerable populations, gutting food1020assistance. Based on what you have just shared with us, I think1021it is fair to say that H.R. 1, the cuts in that bill will have1022a detrimental impact on children, not just right now in the1023immediate, but for years to come, long-term, chronic health1024impacts that will plague our society.1025    Dr. Fink, since the big, ugly bill passed, community1026members I have met with have warned that fewer Americans1027qualifying for SNAP and Medicaid will lead to fewer schools1028offering universal free lunches in low-income areas, reducing1029children's access to essential nutrition. As a pediatrician, is1030it important for children to have regular access to nutritious1031food?1032    Dr. Fink. Thank you, Congresswoman, for that question. As1033an endocrinologist and as a pediatrician, I can definitely say1034that having good, healthy nutrition is the cornerstone of1035developing the best health you have for your future.1036    Ms. Randall. Thank you.1037    Dr. Fink. And that is why----1038    Ms. Randall. Thank you, Dr. Fink. So, it is safe to say1039that losing access to consistent and nutritious meals would be1040harmful to a child's health?1041    Dr. Fink. Well, what I would like to say is we are actually1042looking to totally reform these programs because, right now,1043the N in SNAP stands for nutrition.1044    Ms. Randall. But Dr. Fink, what we are seeing is a cut of1045funding available for nutritious meals for kids in schools,1046meals that are often the only available nutritious meal for1047children from some low-income families. Do you see increased1048anxiety, depression, or behavioral issues in children1049struggling with hunger?1050    Dr. Fink. Food most definitely impacts all aspects of1051health, and that is why, in collaboration with the USDA and1052HHS, we are updating the dietary guidelines because, as you can1053imagine, the dietary guidelines provide all of the information1054that then schools use to make these decisions for what goes1055into the meals.1056    Ms. Randall. Yes, thank you. But in the meantime, we are1057cutting significant funding to SNAP for actual food assistance1058to children and their families. Do you agree that losing access1059to consistent and nutritious meals due to cuts in programs like1060SNAP and TFAP under the big, ugly bill will be harmful to a1061child's health while, like, recognizing that any of your work1062to plan and reevaluate is not immediate, but that is forward-1063looking? So, do you agree that losing access to consistent and1064nutritious meals would be harmful to a child's health?1065    Dr. Fink. Right now, we are working in the immediate in1066terms of getting access----1067    Ms. Randall. So, no.1068    Dr. Fink [continuing]. To better health for all of1069America's children. And so, we----1070    Ms. Randall. So, if a child, say, relies on breakfast after1071the bell, they get their healthy meals at school, and they are1072not able to access those meals, that child is hungry, would you1073agree that that is detrimental to that child's health?1074    Dr. Fink. We are ensuring that schools have the support1075they need so that they can give the best nutrition to all of1076their children.1077    Ms. Randall. Thank you for not answering my question.1078    I yield back.1079    Mr. Grothman. Thank you. We are going to go to Mr. McGuire.1080    Mr. McGuire. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the1081witnesses for being here today.1082    This hearing is truly bipartisan, as it is in everyone's1083interest to ensure American citizens, especially our children,1084are healthy. I have to commend the Trump Administration, the1085MAHA Commission, and, of course, the working families tax cut1086for making efforts to streamline and improve our programs that1087help kids.1088    The MAHA Commission report released worrisome data about1089the health of American children. I would like to take the time1090to highlight some of the top-line items from the report. And,1091first of all, this will tie into everything we are saying here,1092is I think that we need to relook at healthcare, not just for1093adults, but for children, and that we should have a1094preventative healthcare system. And by bringing back the1095Presidential test and things like that, I think it is1096preventative. Also, you cannot exercise your way out of bad1097nutrition, and we have to build a strong foundation at a young1098age.1099    But we found out that more than one in five children over1100six years old is obese in America. More than one in four teens1101have prediabetes, which is preventable. Teenage depression1102rates nearly doubled from 2009 to 2019. Three million high1103school students seriously considered suicide in 2023. You know,1104during the Depression when we had tough time in our country,1105and in World War II when people were losing family members,1106depression rates were not where they are today. Even though we1107are most educated today, we are wealthier today than ever, our1108children are not as healthy as they once were or should be. Dr.1109Fink, in your opinion, does living in a sedentary lifestyle1110contribute to the likelihood of a child being included in one1111of the previous statistics I mentioned?1112    Dr. Fink. Yes.1113    Mr. McGuire. And Dr. Fink, how does a sedentary lifestyle1114impact mental health?1115    Dr. Fink. There are so many factors, but when our1116children's youth are tied to a screen all day long, and they1117are not being active, they have a buildup of fat in their1118bodies, right? You are not eating right, you are not active,1119you have excess body weight. Through excess body weight, you1120start making extra hormones, and you have all sorts of1121metabolic impacts that impact every aspect of your body,1122including the developing brain.1123    And so, we most definitely want to make considerations for1124how we can get our kids active, which is, as you said, bringing1125back the Presidential fitness test, and just really challenging1126families to become active is the way we need to go.1127    Mr. McGuire. Well, I think you just said it, but President1128Trump recently signed an executive order that reinstates the1129Presidential fitness test, which was phased out by President1130Obama in 2013. Dr. Fink, how do you believe the reinstatement1131of the Presidential fitness test will benefit school-aged1132children?1133    Dr. Fink. Well, speaking from someone who did the1134Presidential fitness test as a child, it is really a fun1135experience to get together with your classmates and do those1136exercises and challenge yourself to get better each year.1137    Mr. McGuire. Yes, I mean, it is really an education on how1138to prepare and take care of your body and mind the rest of your1139life. And people that work out, statistically, are less likely1140to be depressed.1141    Dr. Stoody, an estimated 70 percent of American diets come1142from ultra-processed sources. What problems can ultra-processed1143foods cause for children who consume them on a regular basis?1144    Dr. Stoody. I think it is really around the overconsumption1145of ultra-processed foods, and there has been research that1146suggests and kind of gets--tries to look at what are those1147mechanisms. There has been studies suggesting that1148overconsumption of ultra-processed foods have been associated1149with higher body weight, increased risk of different risk1150factors associated with disease.1151    There are a number of reasons why that may be. Is it1152because they are high in added sugars, added fat, added sodium?1153Is it because they are low in fiber? Is it because they are1154displacing healthy foods in the diet? I think it is probably1155many different things, but we do see a relationship between1156over-consumption and risk, including in childhood.1157    Mr. McGuire. You know, lack of healthy food is a concern in1158my district, which is very rural, and I would ask both of you,1159how can HHS, how can USDA work together to expand successful1160community-based nutrition programs in my district, either one1161of you?1162    Dr. Stoody. Actually, I will take this opportunity to just1163mention that, today, Secretary Rollins has announced farm-to-1164school grants for Fiscal Year 2026 that are--they will be1165coming soon, so she has made that announcement, but we think1166that is a really important way to get locally raised or locally1167produced foods into child nutrition programs.1168    Mr. McGuire. Thank you. I yield back.1169    Mr. Grothman. Mr. Bell.1170    Mr. Bell. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and our witnesses for being1171here today.1172    Speaking of preventable, over the past seven months, we1173have witnessed a concerning and dramatic shift in public health1174policy under the leadership of RFK Jr. at the Department of1175Health and Human Services. This overhaul has included the1176removal of CDC Director, the Vaccine Advisory Committee, and1177now the widespread promotion of misinformation. The1178consequences of these actions are real and alarming, and the1179health of the American people, especially our children, face1180significant risk.1181    One of the most pressing threats is the growing antivaccine1182rhetoric that undermines decades of scientific consensus and1183lifesaving health policy. Vaccines have long been one of the1184most effective tools in preventing disease. Currently, the CDC1185recommends over 15 childhood vaccines to protect against deadly1186illnesses. Some of the diseases these vaccines help prevent1187include influenza, measles, and polio, to name just a few. The1188CDC has found that from 1994 to 2023, routine childhood1189vaccinations in the United States are estimated to have1190prevented over 508 million cases of illness and more than 1.11191million deaths.1192    Before widespread vaccination efforts, diseases like polio1193infected over 457,000 Americans causing severe paralysis and1194life-threatening effects. Today, polio remains a risk in only1195communities with low vaccination rates.1196    Diseases like measles, which once caused over 880,0001197deaths globally, have become increasingly rare. Research shows1198that with proper vaccination, the measles vaccine is up to 971199percent effective.1200    Yet, we are now seeing a resurgence. Over 1,400 measles1201cases have been reported in the United States this year across120242 jurisdictions under your watch. Reports from the CDC and1203John Hopkins have shown a decline in vaccination rates from12042024 to 2025, a trend that, if left unaddressed, will have1205catastrophic consequences. We are not living in the early 20th1206century, and we cannot allow disinformation to drag us1207backward.1208    Vaccinations are not new, and the science supporting them1209is clear, consistent, and decades strong. The current efforts1210under RFK Jr. to attack the use of vaccines is irresponsible1211and endangers the public health of our most vulnerable1212populations. Public health should never be a political tool,1213especially when the facts are so clear.1214    So, Dr. Fink, as a physician, you do believe in1215scientifically backed medical practices such as vaccines,1216correct?1217    Dr. Fink. Thank you, Congressman. As a physician----1218    Mr. Bell. That is a real simple question because I do not1219have a lot of time. You do believe in scientifically backed1220medical practices such as vaccines, correct?1221    Dr. Fink. I need to clarify that because, of course, as a1222physician, I vaccinate my patients.1223    Mr. Bell. Okay. And you believe----1224    Dr. Fink. Of course.1225    Mr. Bell [continuing]. In that medical----1226    Dr. Fink. Absolutely. And as a mother----1227    Mr. Bell. Okay.1228    Dr. Fink [continuing]. I want to tell you----1229    Mr. Bell. And so, you agree that vaccines save lives,1230right? These are easy.1231    Dr. Fink. Absolutely.1232    Mr. Bell. These are softball.1233    Dr. Fink. Absolutely----1234    Mr. Bell. Okay.1235    Dr. Fink [continuing]. Save lives.1236    Mr. Bell. Well, that is great. Dr. Fink, and do you agree1237that when communities are ill-informed, that it makes it harder1238to make rational decisions regarding their health?1239    Dr. Fink. Communities deserve to have the best gold-1240standard evidence-based information so that they can have----1241    Mr. Bell. And when they do not get that information, it is1242harder to make a rational decision.1243    Dr. Fink. Absolutely.1244    Mr. Bell. Okay. After her firing, Dr. Monarez wrote in The1245Wall Street Journal, ``If we stay silent, preventable diseases1246will return, as we saw with the largest measles outbreak in1247more than 30 years, which tragically killed two children.'' I1248ask for unanimous consent to enter into the record Dr.1249Monarez's full op-ed.1250    Mr. Grothman. Okay. So entered.1251    Mr. Bell. Thank you. I yield back.1252    Mr. Grothman. Okay. Mr. Gill.1253    Mr. Gill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for hosting this1254hearing, and it is good to know that we have an Administration1255that is prioritizing making America healthy again and fighting1256for children who want safe, healthy food and for Americans, and1257I think that that is refreshing, so we really appreciate this.1258    Dr. Stoody, I have got a few questions for you. First of1259all, what is health equity?1260    Dr. Stoody. It is the consideration that all individuals1261have equal access to healthy foods or different aspects of the1262health system.1263    Mr. Gill. I think all individuals should ideally have1264access to healthy food. Do you think that that should be the1265central lens through which we look at health?1266    Dr. Stoody. It is certainly an area of research and1267discussion.1268    Mr. Gill. But the central lens, do you think that that1269makes sense?1270    Dr. Stoody. You are relating to the work of the 20251271Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee that the previous1272Administration did ask them to conduct their review of evidence1273with a health equity lens.1274    Mr. Gill. Are you familiar with this article entitled--it1275was from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is1276called ``Addressing misinformation about the Dietary Guidelines1277for Americans.''1278    Dr. Stoody. Yes.1279    Mr. Gill. Okay. And were you an author of this article?1280    Dr. Stoody. Yes.1281    Mr. Gill. Okay. I thought so. Your name is on the top. It1282is the second author. One of the statements in this says, ``In1283addition, HHS and USDA have prioritized health equity as the1284central lens through which all scientific questions will be1285considered in the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee1286(DGAC).'' Do you think that that makes sense?1287    Dr. Stoody. That was the request from the Administration,1288and that was carried in through the charge to the committee.1289    Mr. Gill. But do you think that this is a proper way to go1290about promoting nutrition?1291    Dr. Stoody. It is one of the discussion points that--I1292mean, it is one of the topics that is being discussed.1293    Mr. Gill. Well, I am asking if you think that this is a1294proper way of going about promoting nutrition in the United1295States. Your name is on this article.1296    Dr. Stoody. My perspective on that is, I think it is good1297to look at evidence in all ways, and that can include through1298that perspective.1299    Mr. Gill. Do you think it should be the central lens?1300    Dr. Stoody. I did not--that was the request from our1301Administration that----1302    Mr. Gill. But you do not think that that is----1303    Ms. Stoody [continuing]. Is the charge.1304    Mr. Gill. You do not think that that is proper?1305    Dr. Stoody. I did not write the specific charge to the1306committee, so.1307    Mr. Gill. Well, your name is on the article.1308    Dr. Stoody. It is--yes, and----1309    Mr. Gill. It is an article.1310    Dr. Stoody. Yes, and the article is talking about what the1311request was to the 2025 committee.1312    Mr. Gill. And I am asking you if you think that that is a1313proper lens to view nutrition through.1314    Dr. Stoody. I think it is a lens that you can view1315nutrition through.1316    Mr. Gill. Right.1317    Dr. Stoody. I do not think it is the only one.1318    Mr. Gill. But is it a proper lens? Well, this says central1319lens.1320    Dr. Stoody. Again, as a career employee in the Department1321of Agriculture, I implement the requests of our administration.1322And that was, at the time with the Biden Administration, the1323request with the----1324    Mr. Gill. Right, but we have a new Administration with1325different priorities that do not include DEI and health equity.1326Do you think that this is a proper way to view nutrition?1327    Dr. Stoody. I think it, as I have mentioned, that it is1328appropriate to look at literature in every----1329    Mr. Gill. So, you are not going to answer the question,1330respectfully. We can move on then. I thought that that would be1331a simple one.1332    You are familiar with the scientific report of the 20251333Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Is that correct?1334    Dr. Stoody. Yes.1335    Mr. Gill. And you are familiar with the members who wrote1336that, who were on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee,1337right?1338    Dr. Stoody. Yes.1339    Mr. Gill. Got it. One of the things in this same article,1340which you wrote, as a bit of, you said, misinformation, which1341you are attempting to dispel, is that there are no conflicts of1342interest. Is that correct?1343    Dr. Stoody. The discussion is that conflicts of interest is1344considered--was considered in the process to establish the1345Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. I think conflicts of1346interest, whether real or perceived, is an extremely important1347conversation in nutrition science.1348    Mr. Gill. Right. One of the members of that committee is a1349man named Chris Gardner. He is a practicing vegan. He is an1350environmentalist activist, receives funding from a company1351called Beyond Meat, which is trying to run cattle producers out1352of business, wants to move toward plant-based diets. Do you1353think that that is a conflict of interest, that he is on this1354panel, advising the United States in an official capacity about1355what foods are nutritious and what are not whenever he has an1356obvious financial interest in Beyond Meat?1357    Dr. Stoody. I am not--I will say that conflicts of interest1358were reviewed by our----1359    Mr. Gill. I am just asking if it is a conflict of interest.1360    Ms. Stoody [continuing]. Office of Ethics within the1361Department of Health and Human Services who chartered the1362committee. I think that those things should be disclosed and1363discussed. And the Department--the administration was aware of1364those affiliations.1365    Mr. Gill. So, that is a conflict of interest? Is that your1366testimony?1367    Dr. Stoody. I am not an attorney in ethics.1368    Mr. Gill. Neither am I, but it is pretty obvious, isn't it?1369    Dr. Stoody. Well, if you are talking about financial1370conflicts of interest, that is something that our ethics1371attorneys review and assess. So, I do not do that review of our1372members in that process. We do have individuals who support.1373    Mr. Gill. So, your testimony is that you do not know if1374this is a conflict of interest or not?1375    Dr. Stoody. Well, I will say--I mean, there are processes,1376and I think part of what----1377    Mr. Gill. It is just a yes or no question.1378    Ms. Stoody [continuing]. The conversation is with MAHA is1379should those processes be stronger?1380    Mr. Gill. Right, it is just a straightforward yes or no1381question. Is this a conflict of interest, or is it not?1382    Dr. Stoody. It could be----1383    Mr. Gill. That somebody who is----1384    Ms. Stoody [continuing]. Perceived as a conflict of1385interest----1386    Mr. Gill [continuing]. Advising us----1387    Ms. Stoody [continuing]. Yes.1388    Mr. Gill [continuing]. On what is----1389    Dr. Stoody. I will also say----1390    Mr. Gill [continuing]. Nutritious food has a financial1391interest in a business that is trying to run cattle producers1392out of work.1393    Dr. Stoody. Again, I will say that that is reviewed by our1394legal counsel----1395    Mr. Gill. I yield my time back. It is fine.1396    Ms. Stoody [continuing]. Looking at conflict of interest.1397    Mr. Grothman. Thank you.1398    Ms. Simon. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you,1399Ranking Member. And I really appreciate this discussion for1400many reasons.1401    And after hearing parts of the discussion, you know, I1402believe many of us would contend that the greatest threat to1403public health in the United States today is not a virus, it is1404not a chronic disease, but in fact, the leadership of Secretary1405Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Under his watch, our Federal health1406institutions are collapsing. He has forced out leading1407physicians and scientists with expertise on vaccines and1408infectious diseases. He has politicized the CDC and has1409undermined a trust in science at the very moment when families1410most need facts, not politics. Now, this is reckless, and it is1411dangerous, and it is costing lives in real time.1412    On September 3, 2025, more than 1,000 current and former1413HHS employees took the extraordinary step of demanding1414Secretary Kennedy's resignation, 1,000. Mr. Chair, I ask1415unanimous consent to enter that letter into the record.1416    Mr. Grothman. Go ahead.1417    Ms. Simon. Thank you, sir.1418    Secretary Kennedy should have never been confirmed. His1419leadership is a direct danger to the very health of every1420family in this Nation, and I join in calling for his1421resignation.1422    But families face an even more sinister threat in real1423time. That danger is hunger. And cuts to SNAP and Medicaid will1424unleash what some have called the most considerable shock to1425public health in modern history. In California's 12th1426congressional District, my district, approximately 9,000 adults1427could lose SNAP. Nationwide, nearly 40 million people rely on1428this program. Two-thirds of them are children, are seniors, are1429people with disabilities.1430    In my district, I met a mother of three who told me, right1431now, before the cuts actually take place, she says, ``I water1432down my kids' milk so that it lasts to the end of the month.''1433She said, ``I go to school, I go to work, and still, at the end1434of the month, my children go to bed hungry.'' Now, that is not1435a policy or poverty by choice. That is a working parent doing1436everything right, holding down a job, raising kids, studying to1437build a better life, and still unafraid to keep going, but1438unable to afford groceries. Families like hers are, in fact,1439feeling abandoned all over the country, left out into the cold,1440and following every rule, but met with the reality that her1441government will continue to look the other way.1442    These attacks are ripe while grocery prices soar. If you1443have been in a grocery store any time in the last week, you1444know, you know, while the rent takes half of most poor1445families' paychecks, while corporations raise prices faster1446than wages, a mom working full-time as a second grade teacher,1447or a mom working retail, or at a reception desk, or a student1448trying to hold down two jobs, trying to feed her children and1449paying the rent, ended up at the end of the month far from in1450the black. SNAP is the difference between food and hunger. Cut1451it, and families will go hungry.1452    We know what comes next. You have mentioned it. We know1453what comes next when children are hungry. Children face worse1454health outcomes, and those health outcomes live and linger with1455them throughout their lives when they grow up in hunger.1456Poverty reproduces itself. It becomes permanent with empty1457stomachs and untreated illnesses. That is fact.1458    So, I ask--and thank you, both of you, for being here--Dr.1459Stoody, is it not true that children deserve safe and healthy1460meals every single day, including food that is grown locally?1461    Dr. Stoody. Yes.1462    Ms. Simon. Thank you. I agree. I agree. And again, I thank1463you for being here.1464    So, then, I would have to ask all of us, including our1465wonderful panelists here today, then why--and we talked about1466the new grant programs coming out and would love to hear more1467about those. So then why, in March 2025, did USDA cut more than1468$1 billion in planned funding for local school meals and food1469banks? Why did we cut local food for schools' Cooperative1470Agreement Program? And why did we cut Local Food Purchase1471Assistance programs?1472    I would ask that you agree with me that children need more1473than slogans. They need food in their stomachs. I would love an1474answer from both of you if we have some time. And the question1475was, why did we cut those programs?1476    Dr. Stoody. Thank you for the question. I will just note1477that, as mentioned, I am here in my capacity related to an1478expert in childhood nutrition. I am happy to take your question1479back, though, and we can get you a response related to that.1480    Ms. Simon. I appreciate that. Thank you, ma'am.1481    And with that, I would yield my time. But before yielding,1482I would say, as someone who grew up, was a young mom, I had1483WIC, and it is an amazing program. I was in college with my1484kid, and even with WIC, even working half-time, in college1485full-time with a baby on my hip, I still had to put food back1486at the checkout counter. It is expensive being poor.1487    If we want to create a nation of healthy children, we would1488be expanding these programs instead of cutting them. We would1489be expanding school lunches instead of cutting them. We would1490ensure that every low-income family in this Nation had what1491they needed to make sure that their children went to bed with1492full stomachs.1493    And I yield back. Thank you, Chairman.1494    Mr. Grothman. First of all, I would like to thank Secretary1495Kennedy and bring it back to him for standing up to the drug1496companies and standing up for the pharmaceuticals. This is what1497happens when you take on a special interest. But next one up1498here, Mr. Subramanyam.1499    Mr. Subramanyam. Subramanyam, thank you.1500    So, let us be clear the dismantling of SNAP and Medicaid is1501not making any kid healthier in this country, I mean,1502especially when you are also dismantling the very agencies that1503are tasked with child nutrition. We are talking about USDA, we1504are talking about HHS, we are talking about firing experts at1505these agencies that have a long, deep expertise in these1506fields. And, you know, what happens when you do cut SNAP and1507Medicaid is malnutrition, developmental issues, developmental1508delays, long-term chronic health issues. That is what happens1509instead.1510    And I want to focus especially on what is going on at the1511USDA, though, because in 2019, they tried to move two offices1512at the USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)1513and Economic Research Service (ERS). And what ended up1514happening is that these agencies lost a ton of expertise. They1515lost half their staff, a lot of their experts, and they ended1516up not having the ability to get out grants and loans that1517institutions needed to do their research.1518    And now there is a proposal on the table to move all of1519USDA away from this region. And think of the impact that had on1520those two offices. Multiply that by 100. Think about all the1521farmers that will suffer, all the kids that will suffer, all1522the work that will suffer because of that and at a huge expense1523to taxpayers.1524    And so, Dr. Stoody, is it true that employees at USDA were1525sent a survey on the potential move away from the region?1526    Dr. Stoody. There is an open public comment period related1527to the reorganization, so I can speak to that. But beyond that,1528I do not have additional comments in my capacity. But again, we1529would be happy to take that back and get any responses to you.1530    Mr. Subramanyam. So, were USDA employees sent a survey1531about a potential move?1532    Dr. Stoody. We were--we have been encouraged to provide1533comments.1534    Mr. Subramanyam. You have been encouraged to provide1535comments?1536    Dr. Stoody. Yes.1537    Mr. Subramanyam. Okay. Because I was told by a USDA1538employee in your office that they were actually asked about1539this move. And what was interesting was then they were asked to1540put their name on their comments as well. Do you think if1541someone requested or said that they did not like the move and1542put their name on it, that there would be any retaliation to1543that employee?1544    Dr. Stoody. Again, I am here in my capacity as a nutrition1545expert. I do not have specific comments to this.1546    Mr. Subramanyam. I am not laying blame for what is going1547on, on you. But I am just saying, generally, that I have many1548USDA employees in my district, and they are very concerned1549about this. And again, in 2019, when they moved those two1550offices, NIFA, ERS, those two offices, they do research mostly.1551Is that correct? Do you know the--can you tell us?1552    Dr. Stoody. Yes.1553    Mr. Subramanyam. They do economic research, right?1554    Dr. Stoody. Yes. Yes.1555    Mr. Subramanyam. And so, it was just economic research. But1556now you talk about USDA also administers SNAP benefits,1557correct?1558    Dr. Stoody. Yes.1559    Mr. Subramanyam. And what else does USDA do for children?1560Your office does nutrition guidance. Is that correct?1561    Dr. Stoody. Correct.1562    Mr. Subramanyam. Great. And any other functions at USDA1563that you think are worth mentioning here today?1564    Dr. Stoody. Related to child nutrition?1565    Mr. Subramanyam. Yes.1566    Dr. Stoody. Our child nutrition program that supports1567school meals, our special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance1568Program for women, infants, and children, so WIC, they are all1569within USDA as well.1570    Mr. Subramanyam. So, would you say your office does a lot1571of important work?1572    Dr. Stoody. Yes.1573    Mr. Subramanyam. This is the easiest question you will get1574today.1575    Dr. Stoody. Yes.1576    Mr. Subramanyam. What if you lost half of your staff? Would1577you be able to do the same amount of work or quality of work?1578    Dr. Stoody. I cannot speak to specifics across the agency.1579    Mr. Subramanyam. Very diplomatic answer. I think if I lost1580half of my staff, I would not be able to do the same quality of1581work.1582    But I will just end with a story from a constituent. She is1583actually a farmer. And she says that ``Farming is already an1584extremely challenging profession. And these changes at USDA1585make it even harder for us to continue feeding hundreds of1586millions of people each year. Farmers need stable and reliable1587access to the financial and technical resources required to1588farm. This year's funding freezes, programmatic cancellations,1589and staff downsizing at USDA have already impacted my farming1590operation by canceling critical grants. The proposed1591`reorganization' is not only unnecessary, it will only compound1592these problems for farmers all across the U.S.'' Sometimes our1593constituents say it better than we can.1594    And I will say that I will continue to stand up and fight1595against this USDA relocation.1596    I yield back.1597    Mr. Grothman. Okay. Ms. Crockett.1598    Ms. Crockett. And Mr. Chair, before I begin, I do have two1599UCs that seemingly work really well right here. One says ``Farm1600bankruptcies in 2025 already exceed 2024 levels.'' That is from1601Hoosier Ag. And the second one says, ``Farm bankruptcies rising1602in 2025.''1603    Mr. Grothman. Okay.1604    Ms. Crockett. All right. The reason that I wanted to talk1605about farming is because it seems like we think that we can1606talk about things in some sort of vacuum. You cannot talk about1607healthy children if you do not talk about whether or not they1608have money to access any food, whether it is good or bad. Some1609would argue that if you do not have money to access food at1610all, whether it is good or bad, it is probably bad for the1611child to not have anything in their body.1612    The reason that those on my side of the aisle keep bringing1613up these cuts is because we know that we already have a hunger1614problem in this country. Considering the fact that we have a1615hunger problem in this country, it is now only been compounded1616by the poor policies of this Administration and House1617Republicans, as well as Senate Republicans.1618    You see, I do not believe that you can just have a mantra1619where you say, ``Make America Healthy Again'', without actually1620doing the work because, as the good book says, faith without1621works is dead. So, let us talk about the work that really needs1622to be done.1623    Number one, it is in policy, policy that does not look like1624ridiculous tariffs that unfortunately now have our farmers1625going under. In fact, to be very specific, farm bankruptcies1626are up 55 percent compared to 2023, which minimizes the amount1627of food that we do have that will be available, and ultimately,1628that food will be more expensive because that is simple1629economics. Yet at the same time, the $6 a day that people get1630to eat, that is going away.1631    And besides the SNAP benefits themselves, we are talking1632about those kids that only get their food at school. And we are1633able to set the guidelines for whether or not that is healthy1634food or not.1635    The reality is that I am so disturbed because, under this1636Department of Health and Human Services, literally, they have1637become the threat to the American people. Serving from the1638State of Texas, unfortunately, we had to endure the very1639beginning of the measles outbreak. For the first time in 201640years, children are dying. That does not look like making us1641healthier again. In fact, a lot of people want to talk about1642measles, but the plague is back now. We had our first contact1643of that, that recently came out. And we know how the Secretary1644feels about polio. Polio may end up coming back.1645    Right now, President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and1646congressional Republicans are perpetuating the most significant1647public health attack on Americans ever. In just a few months,1648they have diminished HHS' ability to respond to outbreaks and1649emerging health threats. They have dismantled teams that ensure1650Americans are consuming safe foods. They have weaponized the1651Federal Government against universities performing world-class1652research. They have implemented the most significant cut to1653healthcare in American history.1654    These people hate it when American families have access to1655healthcare. They hate it when American families have access to1656healthy foods. They hate it when American families have access1657to affordable housing. They hate it when American families have1658access to affordable childcare because these people simply hate1659America.1660    Nearly everything they have done makes Americans less safe1661and less healthy. The consequences of their actions are simple.1662More children will die and have. More children will go hungry.1663More children will live in extreme poverty. More children1664living with disabilities will lose access to school-based1665therapies and services.1666    So, Dr. Fink, you are here to rubberstamp this agenda, an1667agenda that is so unpopular the Republicans are deciding to1668cheat in next year's elections. But nevertheless, let us talk1669about it. Dr. Fink, in 2021, you provided a presentation at the1670University of North Texas Health Speakers Bureau titled1671``Women's Health.'' Do you remember that, yes or no?1672    Dr. Fink. Yes, I do.1673    Ms. Crockett. Well, during this presentation, you spoke at1674length about the importance of vaccines. In fact, one of your1675slides stated, ``Clusters of under-or non-immunization have the1676potential to foster transmission of vaccine-preventable1677diseases, including measles.'' Is this a slide from your1678presentation, yes or no?1679    Dr. Fink. I have not reviewed that presentation recently,1680so I am----1681    Ms. Crockett. So, we are going to go you do not know. You1682work under someone who has become the face of the antivax1683movement. So, who is right, you or the Secretary?1684    Dr. Fink. Thank you so much for that question.1685    Ms. Crockett. You or the Secretary?1686    Dr. Fink. I would like to tell you that Secretary Kennedy--1687--1688    Ms. Crockett. You or the Secretary?1689    Dr. Fink [continuing]. Is challenging us to use the gold1690standard----1691    Ms. Crockett. So, you are going to filibuster, and I only1692have 25 seconds. So, I am going to go with you assume you, but1693you know that he is your boss.1694    This Administration has lost all credibility with the1695American people and our global partners. No one believes you1696care about improving health outcomes when you are slashing1697National Institutes of Health (NIH) research into Alzheimer's1698disease, women's health, cancer, and diabetes. No one believes1699you care about public health when you cut programs that support1700maternal and child health and eliminate Healthy Start. No one1701believes you care about children when you implement the largest1702cut to Medicaid in history. Americans know the truth, and the1703truth is that this Administration, with the help of1704congressional Republicans, has unleashed the most significant1705assault on public health in American history. The people will1706die as a result.1707    I yield back the remainder of my time.1708    Mr. Grothman. Okay. Pursuant to Committee Rule 9(c), the1709Majority and Minority shall each have five additional minutes1710to question the witnesses. Do you mind if I let you go first,1711Mr. Bell?1712    Mr. Bell. That would be nice, Chair. Thank you. I have two1713UCs, but first, a quick question, Dr. Stoody. Correct me if I1714am wrong, but health equity, equity actually talks about1715everybody, correct?1716    Dr. Stoody. Correct.1717    Mr. Bell. And poor White kids would be included in1718equitable outcomes. Is that correct?1719    Dr. Stoody. Correct.1720    Mr. Bell. Poor Black kids, poor Hispanic kids, poor Asian1721kids would all be included in equitable outcomes when we are1722talking about health equity. Is that correct?1723    Dr. Stoody. Yes.1724    Mr. Bell. I find it very interesting that my colleague1725insinuated, Dr. Fink, that your Administration under RFK Jr.1726does not care about or does not prioritize health equity when1727we are talking about everyone.1728    Mr. Chair, I ask for unanimous consent to enter into the1729record an op-ed from nine former CDC directors who served under1730both Republican and Democratic Presidents titled, ``We Ran the1731CDC: Kennedy is Endangering Every American's Health,'' as well1732as a report from my colleagues on the Senate side, Senator1733Wyden and Senator Alsobrooks, which details the chaos and1734corruption of Secretary Kennedy's leadership.1735    Mr. Grothman. So entered.1736    Mr. Bell. Thank you. And I yield the remainder of my time.1737    Mr. Grothman. Okay. A couple of comments and some questions1738for Dr. Fink. First of all, I just did a little check here. We1739right now have about four times as many people on SNAP as we1740did 20 years ago. I do not know what you want to do with that1741statistic, but it is illuminating.1742    Now, Dr. Fink, could you comment a little on the massive1743increase on pharmaceuticals going to young people today? And1744are you working at HHS or FDA to study the impacts on this1745massive increase in pharmaceuticals our young children are1746having?1747    Dr. Fink. Thank you, Congressman, for your question.1748Absolutely. Our children's youth are now, more than ever,1749receiving way too many medications instead of focusing on1750lifestyle changes first, which means focusing on what we are1751here today to focus on, which is fewer pills and better meals.1752    When you think about mental health, we have our children's1753youth survey that comes out of the Department of Health and1754Human Services. Of the children who experience mental health1755and behavioral health conditions, over half of them receive1756medications for these conditions.1757    Mr. Grothman. Oh my god.1758    Dr. Fink. We need to look at the treatment regimens that we1759have, and we really need to work with our families, work with1760our schools, to think about what are the root causes of these1761conditions. And when I share that--and I think it is1762unfortunate this entire discussion has really missed out on the1763crux of what we are here today to talk about, which is that1764we're at a crossroads in our country. And Secretary Kennedy is1765the bravest Secretary in our country's history to take a stand1766and say, we will not stand for chronic disease in our country1767anymore. We are not just going to sit back and watch these1768obesity rates grow at such tragic ways that our children are1769going to be the unhealthiest generation of our lifetime. We are1770committed to saying we are no longer content with a sick1771healthcare system. We are no longer putting Band-Aids on every1772condition that comes forward.1773    And when someone comes to see you in the doctor's office,1774you know, saying I am depressed, here is your pill, we cannot1775do that anymore. Now, that is not to say that there are1776medications that are important, and, as a physician, I use1777medications all the time, but we have to go to the root cause1778and really treat each patient individually and not treat them1779as a cookbook where we say, you report symptom, here is your1780pill, have a good life, you can consider stopping this1781medication at the end of your life, which will be much shorter1782because we never addressed your chronic disease.1783    Mr. Grothman. Thank you. I have a very high opinion of1784Secretary Kennedy. He is standing up to the drug companies. He1785is standing up to the junk food industry. And believe me, we1786all know the establishment is going to fight back. And I1787appreciate what you are doing along with Secretary Kennedy. And1788I know it has got to be difficult, but I will give you one more1789quick question. When you saw patients in your practice, how did1790you work to reverse chronic diseases such as obesity and1791diabetes?1792    And I will mention again, as someone who goes to my local1793schools, it is obvious that the young people today are heavier1794than the young people when I was a child. When I look at people1795who travel around the world, it is obvious to them that1796America's children are fatter than the children in India or the1797children in Italy or the children in Sweden. It is obvious. And1798people ought to care about that, and they ought to demand a1799little bit of disruption and a different sort of leadership in1800the Department than they have had the last 20 years as American1801kids get worse.1802    But could you let us know what you did to try to reverse1803obesity and diabetes in young kids?1804    Dr. Fink. Absolutely. And, you know, it is not just in1805children, it is in adults as well because unless we treat1806adults as well in the same way we are treating children with1807reversing chronic disease, we are not going to make headway1808because of all the habits that are within families.1809    And so, when I treated patients, I would not just say,1810okay, you are here for diabetes, alrighty. What are your blood1811sugars? Alrighty, check, check, here is your medicine, go have1812a good life. You know, we, as physicians, we ask questions in1813terms of what they are eating, when they are eating, how they1814are eating, when they are exercising, and empowering with1815patients to have them check their blood sugar an hour after1816they eat to realize how a given food impacts them because all1817of us respond differently can work magic because they see how1818foods directly impact their blood sugar levels.1819    And when you empower them to really see how food, as well1820as movement--because another, I hope, you know, someone had1821mentioned earlier, you know, about what they could take back to1822the people of your states. You know, even walking after eating,1823more and more research shows that your blood sugar level goes1824down after you eat very quickly when you have walked right1825after eating. Doing these simple measures can make profound1826impacts. So, rather than just saying, oh, great, you have come1827back for your follow-up visit with me for diabetes, blood1828sugars are still high, let us increase the insulin. It is more1829so how can we change what you are eating so that you do not1830have blood sugar fluctuations up and down all day.1831    And so, my message for you today is there is hope. And1832through Secretary Kennedy's leadership, we are now encouraging1833medical schools and the accreditors to include nutrition in our1834education so that physicians and other allied health providers1835are empowered to give this important information to their1836patients to change health outcomes.1837    Mr. Grothman. Thank you very much. Do you want a closing1838remark? Do you want to comment?1839    Mr. Bell. Sure. I am encouraged to hear that solving1840childhood obesity is a priority and that it is considered1841brave--I think that was mentioned--and that the goal is to see1842a decline in obesity rates. I think that is commendable, and so1843I want to give credit where credit is due. Michelle Obama1844introduced Let's Move in 2008, which was ridiculed by many of1845my Republican colleagues. And so now, to see RFK Jr. in a1846circuitous way, I should say, to speak on that, if he is the1847bravest, I think he would have to be second in line to the1848individual former First Lady Michelle Obama, who initiated that1849initiative in the first place.1850    The concern that we have is that it is important that we1851follow the science and we follow what the data tells us and1852what the data shows us. And we have to be consistent with it.1853We cannot pick one or two issues that everyone agrees on and1854claim to be a champion when we are looking at diseases that are1855preventable, but that endanger lives, having a resurgence1856because of messaging and policy decisions that are being made.1857    And so, I hope that, as Americans, not just Republicans or1858Democrats, we can start looking at these issues through a1859bipartisan lens. And if we are really serious about obesity, if1860we are really serious about healthcare and making folks1861healthy, then let us actually follow the data and the science1862and do that as opposed to some of these fringe conspiracy1863theories that are being given light and given a platform1864because of RFK Jr. If RFK Jr. is so brave, then stand up to1865these conspiracy theorists that he seems to empower and tell1866the truth. Tell the American people the truth. Lives depend on1867it.1868    I yield back.1869    Mr. Grothman. Thank you. One more comment on--I guess we1870call him Bobby Kennedy, huh? I read his book, you know, The1871Real Anthony Fauci. Percentage-wise, not much of that book is1872about Anthony Fauci. Everybody ought to read it. I talked to1873one of the heads of UW Hospitals after I read the book, and I1874asked him if it was really that bad. You know, did the1875pharmaceutical industry really run the medical industry in this1876country to that degree? And he told me, if anything, that book1877was understated, so just a recommendation to read that book.1878    I will emphasize again, 77 percent of the 17-to 24-year-1879olds would not qualify for military service. Every American1880should be scared to death when they hear that. And every1881American ought to know we got to clean house in the medical1882establishment and the public health establishment that has led1883to a statistic out there and things keep getting worse and1884worse.1885    And I mention again, the number of people on food stamps in1886this country has gone up fourfold in the last 20 years. I mean,1887people ought to be scared about that too and say what in the1888world is going on as we let these programs just continue to1889explode, and the people are not getting any healthier at all.1890    I would like to thank you, Dr. Fink, one more time for1891being here. I hope you guys do not give up. I have watched so1892frequently in my years in Congress the special interests at the1893end always get what they want. And I know that junk food lobby1894is hovering around here doing all they can to try to discredit1895Secretary Kennedy. I know the pharmaceutical industry must just1896dread when he was appointed in this job, and they are doing all1897they can to give ammunition to people to try to tear him down.1898    I just encourage, Dr. Fink, when you get back to whoever1899you hang out with on a daily basis, that you let Secretary1900Kennedy know that a lot of people really appreciate, finally,1901after the number of people getting--as the number of shots1902keeps going up over a period of years and the number of mental1903health professionals keeps going up, that we have somebody who1904questions the establishment, and that is why we are glad he is1905here.1906    In any event, I would like to thank you guys for coming1907here. I know efforts were made to kind of change the topic, but1908you stuck on point. And, like I said, I wish you a productive1909three and a half years.1910    With that and without objection, all Members have five1911legislative days within which to submit materials and1912additional written questions for the witnesses, which will be1913forwarded to the witnesses.1914    If there is no further business, without objection, this1915Subcommittee stands adjourned.1916    [Whereupon, at 4:10 p.m., the Subcommittee adjourned.]